Johnson City police have released the name of an elderly woman who died in a trailer fire Friday off South Roan Street.
Despite the efforts of neighbors to save her, 87-year-old Francis Tipton died in the fire at Davis Trailer Park, 2807 S. Roan St. Heavy smoke prevented the neighbors from reaching her as the trailer at lot 3 burned, police and fire officials reported.
The city's fire marshal's office and police department were conducting a joint investigation, and an autopsy had been ordered, but police said foul play was not suspected in Tipton's death.
Fire marshals were to investigate the fire's cause, while police looked into the cause of death.
The call to 911 came in around 2:30 p.m. By the time firefighters were alerted and arrived on scene, it was too late for the woman.
“We arrived within four minutes,” said Johnson City Fire Capt. Lynn Peters. Firefighters encountered little fire, but a lot of smoke, he said.
“The fire was contained to one room. There was a working smoke detector in the home….it was sounding when we arrived,” Peters said.
Tipton's death marked the second fire death in the city this year.
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Earlier report:
Residents in a South Johnson City mobile home park tried to save their neighbor from her burning home Friday, but heavy smoke kept them from reaching her, according to fire officials who responded to the scene.
The call to 911 came in around 2:30 p.m. at Davis Mobile Home Park at 2807 South Roan Street. By the time firefighters were alerted and arrived on scene, it was too late for the woman.
“We arrived within four minutes,” said Johnson City Fire Capt. Lynn Peters. Firefighters encountered little fire, but a lot of smoke, he said.
“The fire was contained to one room. There was a working smoke detector in the home….it was sounding when we arrived,” Peters said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and the victim’s name has not been released.
This is the second fire death in the city this year.